Taqlid

Taqlid (Arabic: تَقْليد, romanized: taqlīd, "imitation") is an Islamic term denoting the conformity of one person to the teaching of another.

Shia Islamic usage designates general conformity to the teaching of a mujtahid, and there is no negative connotation.

In contemporary usage, especially in the context of Salafism, taqlid is often portrayed in a negative light and translated as "blind imitation".

[6] Traditional Sunni scholars rely on two verses of the Qur'an that order one to ask the people of knowledge or remembrance if they do not know and to obey Allah, the messenger and those in authority among them.

[11] As of the 19th century the Shia ulama taught believers to turn to "a source of taqlid" (marja' at-taqlid) "for advice and guidance and as a model to be imitated.